Good Brother Espresso has been a much-loved staple on the Newcastle coffee scene since 2012. 

When the cosy cafe began transforming into an even cosier wine bar of an evening – dubbed Good Nights – Novocastrians embraced the addition with open arms.

A wine list full of wines from small, independent wineries, plus share plates of home-cooked food, and a fun vibe – what was not to like?

Good Nights have been sorely missed since it went on hiatus in July 2022, but last week, the team announced that Good Nights is back! Returning as of Friday, September 22.

From 5pm-10pm Thursday through to Sunday, you’ll be able to experience boozy moonlit evenings at this funky King Street space, soundtracked by vinyl.

Good Nights may have matured a little since its last iteration, but it’s lost none of its warm community vibe. A wall of vinyl records will soon appear and new speakers are being installed in preparation for listening sessions that will be held on Thursday evenings.

Good Nights' much-loved cheese boards, vegan boards, and share plates will return, this time as part of a set three-course meal. The mains will be prepared by chef Natasha Oates, of the bespoke catering company CHOW. These will change week to week, as will the flavours of the desert – small-batch gelato from local favourite, Estabar.

For those wanting something lighter, the cheese and vegan boards can be ordered separately.

The updated wine list focuses on ethically-minded smaller producers, with biodynamic, organic and pét-nat varieties available. The beer selection will heavily feature indie and local breweries, as well as Estrella on tap.

We got the lowdown on the menu for opening weekend – for $55, you'll get to enjoy the below three courses:

Entree
Cheese board or vegan board

Main
Spiced pilaf
Roasted baby carrots & creamy whipped fetta
Hummus topped with carrot top pesto or lamb ragout
Flat bread

Dessert
Lemon myrtle gelato

Walk-ins are available, or book by messaging @goodnights_bar on Instagram, or emailing [email protected].

We can't wait to get back to enjoying this iconic Newcastle venue as it transforms of an evening.

Original article continues below

When Good Brother Espresso opened the doors way back in 2012, Chris and Steph brought something revolutionary to the cafe scene in Newcastle.

A lot has happened since Chris and Steph opened the Good Brother doors, however, their forever plan which they've never lost sight of was to extend the trading hours and transform their cosy cafe into an even cosier little wine bar, and that's exactly what they've done. So it's with great pleasure that we introduce you to Good Nights at Good Brother.

Chatting with Steph and Chris on our visit, Steph explained that the team has held a few events in the past, and she loved the way the space transformed at night.

“Afternoons have become really vibey, we now have this lovely flow into the evening where people come in for a meeting over a coffee and then stay for wine or meet after work and stay all night," Steph said.

It's not all about the wine. Whilst Good Nights is a wine bar, there is a substantial food offering which makes it not only the ideal place to go before or after dinner, but for the main event itself. There are plenty of menu highlights including the Charcuterie and Cheese Boards, a Vegan Share Plate and revolving hot dishes created by Steph’s Mum and local food legend, Bev.

“Mum has an inescapable need to create food, her dishes draw inspiration from all over the world but it mostly just comes from the heart, it's just a part of who she is.”

“Our intent with Good Nights is to offer a casual, warm and inviting space with really beautiful produce and wine, a modest selection that is constantly changing and vibrant.”

Let's talk about the wine list. It's small but considered, and features wine exclusively produced in small, independent wineries. Prices range from the treat yo’self bottle of Farr Rising Pinot Noir from Geelong, that will set you back $81, while a 1/2 litre carafe of house wine will cost you $20.

We also love that local producers are a big part of the menu, with the Newcastle Farmers Market getting a good nudge every weekend along with Local Crop, Baked Uprising, Bacco's Bakeries, Covered in Crumbs and Just Been Laid Eggs. Let's not forget the wine list with one of our Hunter Valley faves, Glandore Estate Wines, representing the local scene. 

“We are so lucky to have such great products available right on our doorstep, it constantly feeds our enthusiasm for food. We make all our own sauces and relishes in-house and any leftover compost materials feed our family chickens.”

The thoughtfulness found in the food and wine menu extends to the decor, with a brand new fit-out custom-made by local wood craftsman Andrew Bradley and designed by Chris himself.

"I'm so happy with how it all came together. Andrew is amazingly talented and such a great person to work with. I am particularly happy with the new trestle tables we have on the street, customers keep asking me where we got them from, Andrew has already received orders for two more!” Chris said.

Inside, a dramatic permanent mural by local artist and recent Kilgour art prize finalist Leeroy Chapman commands an entire wall, whilst an adjacent wall features smaller works by the same artist as part of a revolving exhibition of local artists.

“We have held some awesome little events here. The exhibition openings are always fun, we’ve also had live music, album launches and private parties, it’s a great little intimate space, anything over 50 people and it starts spilling out onto the street, but that's fun too."

Good Nights is everything you want in a wine bar: amazing food, delicious wines, beautiful decor and a cosy yet vibrant ambience.